Dehradun, January 9
The Shiv Sena burnt 
Pakistan’s national flag in Dehradun today in protest against the gruesome killing of two Indian soldiers by the Pakistan army men in the Indian territory.

The Shiv Sainiks gathered at Clock Tower and resorted to sloganeering against Pakistan. The protesters also burnt Pakistan’s national flag.

The speakers said Pakistan had always attacked India treacherously. They accused the Central government of doing little to check Pakistan’s repeated misadventures.

“It is shocking that Pakistan intruders managed to come 100 metre inside the Indian territory and killed two of our soldiers brutally. India needs to take Pakistan to task immediately,” Tarun Ahuja, one of the protesters, said.

Another speaker Satendra Yadav said the UPA government at the Centre had failed to secure the borders of the country. It was least concerned about the security and safety of its armed forces. Raj Uppal, Rakesh Bansal, Rohit Bedi, Anurag Srivastava and Nand Kishore Bhutani were prominent among the Shiv Sena protesters. 

Dehradun, January 9
In a significant development, World Bank will be sending it's inspection panel to investigate the policy violations by the proposed 444 MW Vishnugad Pipalkoti Hydroelectric Project built on Alaknanda river in Uttarakhand.

The inspection panel’s visit follows a complaint filed by the affected communities and their representatives in July last year to the World Bank, raising serious social and environmental issues arising due to the project.

The complaint has raised issues of water shortages that will occur in the stretch of the river where water will be diverted into the underground tunnel. It further held that the "environmental flow" of the river has not been properly estimated and yet to be finalised. It also said that the quality of the water in the Alaknanda river will be degraded when it is diverted into the underground tunnel, and it's free flow will be blocked.

According to Vimal Bhai of Matu Jan, who has been spearheading a campaign to highlight adverse impact on rivers and environment due to upcoming hydropower projects in the state, asserted that there were serious concerns about the loss of livelihood due to this Vishnugad Pipalkoti Hydroelectric Project. “People’s access to river, sand and fish will be severely impacted due to this project. There are also health issues people are afraid of,” he pointed out.

In addition to this, the complaint also says that due to the diversion of the river there is no river water available for religious and cultural rituals like bathing festivals, funeral rites and river worship.

“We are happy that the complaint has been accepted for a full investigation by the inspection panel,” said Briharshraj Tadiyal, one the complainants. Another complainant Bharat Jhunjhunwala said “we hope for a fair and independent investigation and no work or funds disbursements should happen till all issues are settled to the satisfaction of all concerned.”

The inspection panel was set up in 1993 following the independent review committee which looked into the violations by Sardar Sarovar (Narmada) Dam, resulting in World Bank’s withdrawal from the project.

Dehradun, January 9
SSP Kewal Khurana and other fellow police officers today distributed 600 CDs related to traffic rules and regulations free of cost to commuters at various junctions in the city.

The SSP distributed them at Mussoorie diversion, Circle Officer (CO) Sarita Dobhal at ISBT, CO, Dalanwala, Madan Singh Farswan, at Rispanapul, and CO, City, Mamta Vohra, at Ballupur.

Kewal Khurana said: “The CDs’ have been distributed to spread awareness among masses about adherence to traffic rules. Not only this, bill-boards, reading traffic rules and various police helpline numbers incorporating those of Senior Citizens' Cell, Anti-Women Harassment Cell and Women's Protection Cell will also be installed on 12 busy crossings or junctions in the city.”

These places include Harrawala, Dila Ram Crossing, Clock Tower, Ballupur and Saharanpur Crossing.

All this exercise is undertaken to not only spread awareness but also to penalise the offenders after the deadline of January 21. Traffic police is giving sufficient time in educating the public so that people are not caught unawares after the given time limit.

Dehradun, January 9
The biggest college of Uttarakhand in terms of strength of students, DAV (PG) College, Dehradun, will not be admitting students to the first year of BA, B Com and BSc courses this year.

Addressing a press conference in Dehradun, DAV (PG) College Principal Dr Devendra Bhasin today said the college had a big strength of students, thus the college administration had been forced not to go for admission to the first year of BA, B Com and BSC courses this year.

Dr Bhasin even appealed to the students to contact chief proctor if they faced any problem rather than just going to student leaders. He said all efforts were being undertaken to make environs at DAV (PG) College fully academic.

Dr Bhasin also held that the college authorities were working to make the college campus clean and garbage free. He said other problems being faced by the students were also being redressed. Chief proctor DAV (PG) College Kaushal Kumar and Dr RK Pathak were among present.

Mussoorie, January 9
Members of the Jaunsar-Rawain-Jaunpur community residing in Mussoorie today gathered to celebrate the Maroj festival. The festival in the month of Magh started with the traditional goat sacrifice early morning in the presence of a large gathering. The Magh mela would continue the whole of January.

The goat sacrifice ceremony was followed by traditional songs and a dance by the members of the community around a bonfire. The community members also savoured a locally-prepared traditional herbal drink called “ghani sur”, which reminded them of the tradition followed in their villages situated around Mussoorie and far beyond.

The Baboolal Sharma group and the Reshma Shah group gave an impressive cultural performance. The women performers, who were dressed in traditional attire, enthralled the audience with their foot-tapping song and dance numbers on the occasion. The organisers of the festival, Aglar-Yamuna Ghati Vikas Manch, organised a traditional community lunch called “baanta” (share of the sacrificed goat) for the community members.

Urban Development Minister Preetam Singh Panwar inaugurated the festival and danced with other political dignitaries like former BJP Cabinet minister Khajan Das and traditional artistes to mark the occasion.

Addressing the community members, Panwar said it was a historical festival and such occasions not only brought the people closer but also helped in preserving the culture and tradition of their respective regions.

He said such festivals should be given recognition at the state level on the lines of the Kullu Dasehra in Himachal Pradesh so that it could become an important event on the tourism calendar of the state. He also commended the Vikas manch for organising the festival.

President of the Aglar-Yamuna Ghati Vikas Manch Shoorvir Rawat and convener Manmohan Singh Mall urged the government to support the festival and promote it so that tourists could also have the first-hand experience of the rich culture and tradition of the region.

Many eminent persons were given special citations and awards for their contribution to the community. The other dignitaries present at the festival were former Mussoorie MLA Jot Singh Gunsola, Jaikishan Shah, Subhash Ramola etc.

Mussoorie, January 9
Aglar Yamuna Ghati Vikas Manch member Surat Singh Rawat, highlighting the importance of the Maroj festival being organised at Shagun Palace in Mussoorie, today said that it was celebrated to mark the symbolic slaying of Dushasana in the epic Mahabharata. “During Mahabharata, after Dushasana pulled the sari of Draupadi, she vowed not to tie her hair till she washed it with the blood of Dushasana, and the sacrifice of the goat symbolised the slaying of Dushasana.

The women of the community on this day observe a fast and keep their hair untied until the goat is sacrificed, added Rawat.

Another member of the community, Bijendar Panwar, adding in to the reasons behind celebrating the festival, said that the tradition was also believed to have started in the period when no cultivation was possible in winters due to heavy snowfall in the region.

The farmers on the advent of the chilly month of January would slaughter goats before the deity and feast on these. “The goats were slaughtered one day before the advent of the Magh month, and in winter the flesh remained good for the entire month, which was consumed gradually," added Panwar.

Many senior residents of the community opined that earlier during the festival, goats were sacrificed in front of Bhairon Devta Temple amidst sounds of drumbeats. Once slaughtered, the goats were taken home and the meat cut into pieces, locally called ‘banta,’ wrapped with available cloth or paper and sent to the married daughters.

However, the tradition of sacrificing goats and preparing intoxicant herbal drinks at homes was on the decline, and now such activities are carried out only as a symbolic gesture.

Villagers in Rawain-Jaunsar-Jaunpur region will feast on goat meat and make merry during the one month-long festival.

Dehradun, January 9
Activists of Uttarakhand Kranti Dal today led a torch march from office headquarters to Clock Tower, proceeding towards Paltan Bazaar, Prince Chowk and culminating at UKD office. The march was held in the wake of a city bandh announced by the party tomorrow to oppose the state government’s stand on the issue of permanent residence, reservations in promotions and capital of the state.

Punjabi Kranti Morcha led by president Jupinder Singh opposed the bandh and met traders at Paltan Bazaar and other markets today in this regard.

He said his party men would be present in the markets tomorrow to oppose those who would force shopkeepers to close their shops. He also demanded sufficient safety measures from the SSP in this regard.

SSP Kewal Khurana had beefed up security arrangements and deputed police in 16 zones in the city. The SP, City, will be in-charge of safety arrangements tomorrow. 

Dehradun, January 9
City president of the Samajwadi Party Pradeep Chaudhary today protested in front of the Dehradun Municipal Corporation (DMC) to highlight issues of lack of sanitation and poor roads in Dehradun. He also submitted a memorandum to Mukhya Nagar Adhikari Ashok Kumar. Chaudhary said the DMC employees were not properly cleaning lanes and lifting garbage at various places in the city.

The roads, which came under the DMC domain, were potholed and stagnant water was gathered on these in many localities. However, still the DMC officials were not paying attention to their grievances.

Chaudhary said slum-dewellers were the worst affected due to lack of sanitation and the poor condition of roads. 

Dehradun, January 9
The Uttarakhand Jal Sansthan has launched a drive against illegal water connections in Dehradun. So far, about 150 illegal connections have been detected.

The drive will continue for some more days as the Sansthan officials feel due to the threat that illegal connections will be cancelled has led to a large number consumers approaching the authorities for the regularisation of their connections.

“We are not undertaking any punitive measures for the time being as consumers are coming forward with requests for the regularisation of their connections. It is also helping us in our exercise to regularise water connections,” said DD Dimri, Chief General Manager, Jal Sansthan.

Dehradun, January 9
The Little Masters Cricket Academy and the Khalsa Cricket Academy (A) won their respective matches in the 61st Dehradun District cricket League played at Col Brown School here today.

In the first match, the Khalsa Cricket Academy (A) defeated the C Block Cricket Club by 152 runs. Batting first after winning the toss, the Khalsa Cricket Academy (A) team scored 243 runs for the loss of eight wickets in 30 overs. Saurabh scored 51 runs while Abhimanu scored 49 runs for the Khalsa team. Shubham Chauhan and Shubham Rawat took two wickets each.

In reply, the C Block Cricket Club team was all out for 91 runs in 22 overs and lost the match by 152 runs. Suraj was the only batsman to score 28 unbeaten runs. Gaurav took four wickets for 22 runs while Siddharath and Abhimanu took three wickets each.

In the second match, the Little Masters Cricket Academy defeated the Nav Jyoti Cricket Club by 36 runs. The Little Masters Cricket Academy won the toss and elected to bat first. It scored 126 runs all out in 23 overs. Amit Pharasi was the top scorer with 41 runs. Anil Nautiyal took four wickets for just five runs while Abhishek Pharasi took three wickets for 28 runs.

In reply, the Nav Jyoti Cricket Club team was all out for 70 runs in 19.4 overs and lost the match by 36 runs. Abhishek was the only batsman who reached double digit and scored 16 runs. Saurabh took five wickets for 13 runs while Vishal Shah took three wickets for 25 runs.